TO CLOSE

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford addresses the media following the 23-16 loss to the Chicago Bears on Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018 at Ford Field.
Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press

It's informally official now. You are free. Released.

To worry about mathematical possibilities. From the study of the ranking. To think that if only the Detroit Lions could defeat the Bears, shock the L.A. Rams and take flight and …

Come on. Let it go. Eat pie – preferably cherry, apple or pumpkin if you have to. Make a rest of turkey sandwich this weekend and enjoy all the NFL football matches of your choice.

Better yet, find a new team for the next five weeks. Pin a card to the wall. Throw a dart. Move your finger to the nearest city. Acclamation. Unless you land in Detroit, in which case you throw the dart again.

Seriously, it's time to think about the project. About free agents. About shoveling your driveway. In reality, these Lions are not affected by the following five Sundays.

Look, I understand. You watched Thursday's match against Chicago because it was Thanksgiving. Tradition and everything. And sometimes the Lions surprise you.

Above all, they do what they did on Thursday when they lost, 23-16, to bears: getting closer. Give hope. Throw a choice of six in the middle of the fourth. Then say that it's not good enough after everything is finished.

Rinse. Wash. Repeat.

The problem is that nothing is ever cleaned up. We are stuck in the same loop.

Think of it this way: when you first heard the promising young quarterback from Chicago, Mitchell Trubisky, did not want to play because of an injury you thought … Matt Flynn.

Admits it. Do you remember him, right? He was Aaron Rodgers' replacement in 2012 when the Lions entered the Lambeau field as favorites and were beaten by Flynn, setting franchise records for the yards – 480 – and six touchdowns.

Only Lions. Matt (expletive) Flynn.

If you say it slowly enough, it looks a lot like – Chase … Daniels.

Daniels did not break franchise records Thursday afternoon at Ford Field. But his performance was certain.

Here, he started his first match in four years. Release feather dimes on the shoulder to its recipients. Throw two touchdown passes and, for what it's worth, no interception.

In fact, avoiding interceptions is worth a lot. A team launched two on Thursday. This team lost.

But enough about the game, another heartbreaking defeat, another opportunity for your team to marvel at a national audience looking for something other than eating overcooked and artificially enlarged turkey meat.

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As I said earlier, it's time to move on and enjoy the style of Patrick Mahomes, the young and wonderful young quarterback from Kansas City, or Jared Goff, the Rams' sophomore.

It turns out that these Rams will be going to the Ford Field two Sunday from now, which promises to be a bargain, at least on a sideline. The good news is that you will not care.

If you come across such quotes from your head coach, you do not mind:

"We have to come back and get back to work," said Matt Patricia after the loss to the Bears. "So we have a lot to do, a lot to improve and areas in which we continually try to improve. There is not much time to sit down and feel sorry for ourselves. "

L & # 39; s history: Lions should be just grateful for the visit of Turkey Day in Chicago

No, there is none. If, however, you want to sit down and feel sorry for yourself, go for it. You deserved it.

Just try not to waste your time sulking. There are so many other teams there. Fun teams. The teams who throw the bottom of the ground. Teams that score more than 30 points.

Teams that do not earn enough to give you hope but lose enough to demolish it. Week after week after week.

So adopt one. Temporarily. Even if you really can not leave these Lions.

I would suggest watching the college games and start thinking about the draft. Maybe read about potential free agents. Perhaps dreaming of who could call the plays next season and see how much the offensive might look different.

Really, however, a better emotional break for next month and a week would be the best. Watch for Lions all the way, if you must. This is fine.

But do it with indifference, with a detached cold, in a position of psychological security. And stop thinking about mathematics, the influence of a percentage of luck that Lions are not eliminated from the playoffs.

You do not do favors. In addition, Lions lost their chance to play in the playoffs before the television changed to color.

This does not happen. Not this year. Losing to bears on Thursdays all decided.

You are free.

Finally.

Contact Shawn Windsor at 313-222-6487 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @shawnwindsor.